43 students taken to hospital in carbon monoxide scare

Dec. 3, 2012
|

Downtown Atlanta / Kirby Lee, U.S. Presswire

by WXIA-TV, Atlanta

by WXIA-TV, Atlanta

ATLANTA -- Police and rescue crews rushed to Finch Elementary School in southwest Atlanta on Monday morning, where at least 49 people were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes.

The reports came in to 911 at about 8:35 a.m.

Fire crews said when they arrived at the school in the Oakland City area, at least six people had been overcome by the fumes. Three had regained consciousness. Officials said most of the people overcome were from a single classroom at Finch.

Atlanta Public School officials said six adults were transported to Atlanta Medical Center, and 43 students were taken to Children's Health Care of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding.

According to 11Alive's Paul Crawley, all the students at Hughes Spalding are in good condition after precautions were taken for carbon monoxide exposure.

School officials said evacuated the entire school building as a precaution and bussed the students to Brown Middle School.

Atlanta Fire Department Batallion Chief Todd Edwards said that when crews entered Finch Elementary, the carbon monoxide levels -- at 1,700 PPM -- were the highest that they had ever recorded inside a building.

Lieutenant Marian McDaniel, speaking on 11Alive News Monday morning, said Finch is a relatively new school.